PANO - The Kim Dong Publishing House has made public a Japanese picture book on autistic people, named “Going with the light”. It is part of a cooperation project between the publisher, the Vietnam Autism Network and the Japan Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam.

The 15-volume book, authored by Keiko Tobe, is about the daily life of a Japanese family whose kid is an autistic.

The covers of the book

Hikaru, the autistic boy, was born in his parents’ love and hope. Unfortunately, he had abnormal behaviors such as his denial of caressing manners, sleep disorder, and cries all the time.

His mother was shocked to know that he was autistic. She was more depressed as what she received was not sympathy from her family, but criticism and blame for her ways of nurturing him, for example allowing him to watch television too much or feeding him with instant food.

However, it was the mother’s boundless love that inspired her to fight against the syndrome that scientists had not yet explained and the society did not sympathize with. Moreover, her strong will helped changed the thinking of her family and surrounding people. Gradually, those people raised their awareness of autism and decided to create a friendly society for autistic people.

The debut of such a book in Japan made great contributions to raising public awareness of autistic people. With his book, author Keiko Tobe won the outstanding prize at the Japan Communication Fine Arts Festival.

According to Doctor Vu Song Ha, Deputy Director of the Population and Health Initiative Center, the book is of great significance for autistic people and other people in society because there remains discrimination against and misunderstanding of autistic children while there are about 200,000 autistic people in Vietnam.

The book also provides readers with knowledge of autism and ways to give early treatment to autistic children. Pictures and encouraging words in the book will help bring hope to families whose kids are autistic as well.

Translated by Mai Huong